Council to vote on 15-month waterfront project extension

DOVER — A resolution will be on next week's city council agenda for members to vote to accept the conditions of extending the rights to the Dickinson Development waterfront project.

Over the past three weeks, City Councilor Karen Weston said a number of councilors have met with Mark Dickinson, president of Dickinson Development, to “put to bed” any apprehension they once had about the project.

She said there have been a few design changes to the building, but was unable to say what they are specifically.

“Dickinson is hopeful that with these couple changes, he can get (financing),” Weston said.

City Councilor Michael Weeden said there have also been changes in the amendments to the Land Disposition Act.

In December, Dickinson admitted to the council members and the Cocheco Waterfront Development Advisory Committee that although three years seemed like plenty of time to find an investor when he signed the LDA in 2009, the poor economy is making the process difficult.

Seventeen investors have shown interest in the project, which will ultimately add businesses and condominiums along the Cocheco River in the Garrison City. The market and the length and expense of the project have turned investors away.

When his three years was up, the LDA required Dickinson to begin paying the city $10,000 extension payments for each month he continued to delay breaking ground on the project.

During the meeting in December, Dickinson said between planning and the extension payments, he has invested more than $1 million into the waterfront.

“I'd hate to walk away ... I just need more time,” he said at the December meeting.

After delivering four extension payments, Dickinson said he will no longer pay the city, but if the council votes to amend the LDA, he will deliver a one-time $25,000 payment.

Weeden said next week's resolution asks for Dickinson to begin paying the extension payments again once he finds his investors and is able to move along with the project.

Mayor Dean Trefethen said that Councilors Michael Crago, Karen Weston and Edward Spuler are sponsoring the resolution, which will allow Dickinson to have an additional 15 months to find an investor.

In December, CWDAC had voted to give Dickinson 18 months, but, according to Weeden, this resolution will be for 15 months.

On Thursday, Trefethen said he is “cautiously optimistic” that the resolution will pass next week as it appears the councilors are in support of extending Dickinson's contract.

Weston said he has been “very forthcoming” over the last three weeks.

“We have waited so long and we are so close,” Weston said. “My hope is to have full support of the council.”

Weeden, who is also in support of the extension, said it would take a long time to get another developer interested if the resolution was to fail and Dickinson was forced to back out of the project.

“Especially the way the economy is,” he said.

If next week's resolution in support of the extension passes, the next step will be CWDAC voting on the proposed design changes.

The City Council will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall.